Word
profess
Phoneticspro·fess, stress on the second syllable
US/pɹəˈfɛs/
UK/pɹəfˈɛs/
Definition
v. to state something officially or publicly, especially something you believe to be true. You use this when you want to show that you are committed to a specific idea or job.
v. to state or declare something formally or publicly; to claim to possess a particular quality or belief. Often used in formal or academic contexts to indicate a formal declaration of status or intent.
Examples
“He professes to be a loyal supporter of the team.”
“The candidate professes to have no interest in the position, though she applied for it last year.”
“While he professes to be a pacifist, his recent investments in military technology suggest a more complex and pragmatic set of priorities.”
Examples
simple
“He professes to be a loyal supporter of the team.”
contextual
“The candidate professes to have no interest in the position, though she applied for it last year.”
complex
“While he professes to be a pacifist, his recent investments in military technology suggest a more complex and pragmatic set of priorities.”
Real-World Examples
“She also called Trump’s threat to rename Lake Ontario as Lake America “not very neighbourly.”
“In 2017, professing not to understand the president might have passed for candour,” Bradford said.” “For graduates pessimistic about AI’s implications for the labor market, claims professing its value feel inauthentic.” Etymology
From Old French professer, and its source, the participle stem of Latin profitērī, from pro- + fatērī (“to confess, acknowledge”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/profess